Special to The Leader
The Orange Leader
September 16, 2008 04:12 pm
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ORANGE, Texas, September 16, 2008 - The Stark Museum of Art survived Hurricane Ike with no damage or water intrusion. The Stark Museum and its collections remain in excellent condition despite the effects of Hurricane Ike upon the City of Orange, where the museum is located.
Museum staff members had fully implemented the Museum's hurricane plan well in advance of the storm's landfall and had taken steps to protect the collections in the event of possible flooding. Essential employees of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, which owns and operates the Museum, remained in the Museum at all times during the hurricane to monitor conditions and protect the collections.
Although the City of Orange experienced flooding from the hurricane, the floodwaters did not enter the Museum. While electricity has not yet been restored to the city, the Stark Museum of Art has been and continues to maintain climate control through power from its generator.
Because of the extensive damage throughout the City of Orange and the lack of city services as a result of Hurricane Ike, all events that were previously slated to be hosted by the Stark Museum of Art will be canceled until further notice, including the Fall Family Day scheduled for October 4.
The Stark Museum of Art will remain closed to the public until such time as city services resume, power is restored and exhibitions are reinstalled in the galleries. This includes cancellation of all group tours and school field trips scheduled for September, with scheduling for subsequent months to be determined as additional information becomes available. In the meantime, the Stark Foundation and Stark Museum staff will work diligently to ensure the preservation and protection of the Stark Museum of Art, and the staff will endeavor to return to normal operations as soon as possible.
For updates and further information, visit the Stark Museum website at www.starkmuseum.org.
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